Cesar Hernandez hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Pivetta threw five tough innings and the Philadelphia Phillies (custom Philadelphia Eagles championship rings) beat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Tuesday night. Pivetta (3-1) allowed three runs and three hits, striking out six in his first start since a demotion to Triple-A after posting an 8.35 ERA in his first four starts. "I think anyone would grow from something like that," Pivetta said of his stint in the minors. "I want to start again in five days and I want to be here the rest of the year." Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna hit homers in the first inning, but the Cardinals wasted a 3-0 lead and lost for the 11th time in 15 games. "I'm not going to say we're not playing well because we haven't played poorly," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "This group is only getting tighter. Ultimately, it'll be a blessing."
Hernandez gave the NL East-leading Phillies (cheap championship rings) a 4-3 lead in the fourth when he launched his sixth homer of the season off the facing of the second deck in right field. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (4-5) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts. Edgar Garcia got five outs, Seranthony Dominguez retired all four batters he faced and Hector Neris finished for his 10th save in 10 tries. The Cardinals quickly jumped ahead following a 50-minute rain delay during which Pivetta got soaked jogging in from the bullpen. Goldschmidt slammed a hanging slider into the left-field seats for his 11th homer. After Paul DeJong was hit by a pitch, Ozuna ripped a two-run shot the opposite way to right for his 15th homer.
"A real gutsy performance in those conditions. Some of those rain drops were big," Phillies (world series rings for sale) manager Gabe Kapler said of Pivetta's outing. "He really showed up when he needed to. He stayed tough." Pivetta helped himself with a one-out single in the third. Andrew McCutchen also singled and Bryce Harper lined a two-run double with two outs to cut the deficit to 3-2. Harper hit another double in the fifth, but was thrown out by center fielder Harrison Bader trying to score on Rhys Hoskins' single. Harper also struck out twice and leads the majors with 75. "He's relaxed, confident, seeing the ball well," Kapler said. "Those doubles were blistered."
